Hydraulic valve assembly for motor control



.June 22, 1948. HfR, SANDERS 2,443,964 HYDRAULIC VALVE ASSEMBLY Fon MOTOR CONTROL Fi1ed July 21, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 l Q we I June 22, .1948. I H R, SANDERS f 2,443,964

' HYDRAULIC VALVE ASSEMBLY FORMOTOR CONTROL Filed July 21, 1944 L '2 SheetS-Sheet 2 @kk/gw Patented June 22, 1948 N oFF-ice HYDRAULIC VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR CONTROL .Herbert R. Sanders, Los Angeles, Calif. LApplication Ju1y'21, 1944, semi No. 546,015

` 14 crains. (o1. ca -97) This invention is a manually cr otherwise controlled, semi-automatic, hydraulic, multi-assemly valve system. y Various, complex, combined linkor cabletrain mechanisms have been proposed and some used forinitiating and stopping operation of relative hydraulic motors; especially` of the recproeating pistontype. Y

'It is an object of this invention to provide a more reliable., much more simple, and less vulnerable valve systemtrian afforded bythe link or cable type controls. i i

A further object orf the invention is `to provide a `control system, related to-divers functions, by using hydraulic apparatus including a peculiar combination or selective, multiple feeder and exhaust `valves for control of direction of motor drive, by motive liquid, junction service valves for power liquid delivery, a pressure operated, junction pressure and exhaust flow check valve means,

andset of piston co-ordinating valves.

In addition, an object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic apparatus to feed motive liquid to one or more liquid pressure driven motors of desired type whereby to, from a near or remote station point and by manual or other control, initiate piston stroke or mot-ion in one selected direction, and tostep-by-step positively continue the initiated motion,'or to,.i`rom any step, reverse the piston motion and continue its reverse motion step-by-step, within reciprocation limits, in caseof reciprocating motors, or contiriuously when the apparatus is employed on a rotary piston prime mover.

It isalso an object ci the invention to provide means controlled by a given motor, in the comh bination, to cause cessation of motion at the end of each step efor which the master control or piston `service valve may have been hand or otherwise set. i

A desired objective is to provide a unitary, hand valve devicey for initially selecting the direction of the motive liquid to the service system and concurrently the flow of exhaust liquid from the served motor or motors, as the case maybe, for in one adjustment liquid tubes `are used for pressure delivery and if reverse pressure adjustment is selected then the same tubes take up mere'exhaust pressure, at least up to related junction control valves.

Another object of the invention .is to provide asingle spindle ,control whereby to first select a. direction of ilow of motive liquid and then to control step-by-step action of the related prime mover or Amovers in the selected direction, and at tion,-showing a multiple,

2 any time to elect a reverse flow and motor action. The invention consists of certain advancements in this art as set forth in the ensuing disclosure andhaving, with the above, additional objectsand advantages as will be made manifest in the following description of the herewith illustrative ap` paratus embodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations` and adaptations 'may be resorted to within the scope, spirit and prin clple of the invention as it is more particularly claimed in the addendum. A.

Figure lis a schematic diagram, partly in sechydraulic motor control. `Figure .2 `is a detail, sectional view `o the liquid direction control means. Y y

FigureS is "an end elevation of a double point, multi-poppet valve cam.

In the illustrative disclosure two, like, reciproeating motor cylinders 2 and v3 have respective pis-- tons 4 and 5 for operating piston rods 16-#6 which are connected in any desired manner to structures, not shown, which :are to be motivated` and controlled by the motor pistons.

The rods -'Ei` are falso connected to relative gear racks 1--1 Vwhereby to afford a positive means for controlled actuation of motor piston Acontrol valves operatively mounted in housings 8--8 fixedly associated with the motor cylinders Z-JS. The racks Al-l constantly engage related pinions 9 '(one being omitted) which are xed on shafts l0 extending from the housings 8-8, which are duplicate and contain duplicate sets `of four valve chambers, a description of one of which willsuiiice for both.`

Each of these sets contains at one side of the shaft I0 a pair of chambers H and l2 Which are connected by a duct I3 in commento a power liquid flow tube I4 tapping into its relative cylinder 2 (3) to supply pressure at one end thereof kfor driving the piston 4 (E) and also,ireversely, for timely exhausting the relative end of the cylinder. In. these chambers work the heads of :puppet valves `lil and I6 having light 'springs Il--l8 tending to close the valves on seats at the ends ofliquid pockets il' and l2'.

The pocket l I', as tomotor cylinder 2, is served by a two-way flow tube Ha and thepocketll, as to cylinder -3 is served by a two-way 'flowtube Hb; the arrows od Fig. 1, showing pressure flow in these tubes for the purpose of drivingthe. motor pistons 4--5 to the left, concurrently, andunder an equal head of liquid pressure. f,

Sincethe pistons are double acting in operation another pair of spring closed, poppet valves- I9 and 20 is provlded'to open into chambers 2| andZZ;

CFI

(and possible fluid pressure) in such order that,

a shown, opposite valves I and I3 are openedinto their chambers and immediately thereafter the intra-angle valves I6 and 24 are freed to close by action of their springs and stop` ow from their chambers into their pockets, In event that liquid pressure should be on both sides of a poppet valve (as will be at times) if the poppet is closed, as is poppet I6, and if pressure in pocket I2' is greater than pressure in chamber I2 then liquid pressure in pocket I2' may overcome liquid pressure in chamber I2 and spring I8 and ow from pocket I2 to chamber I2 in the ow cycle as tothe motor unit 2 (3) and with pressure from the chamber I I act on the motor, as determined by pipe friction in the circuit. 4

The valve timing and actuating means is here a double pointed cam xed on the shaft I0 (of each motor). This cam presents diametrically opposite high points 25-2'I, Fig. 3, and intermediate low faces 28-29; the points and the said faces being all 90 apart in a common plane around the shaft. Therefore, in Fig. 1, the cams 25, at one instant, are in the position shown as t0 the motors and4 liquid pressure is fed to the right end of the motors 2-3 whilst exhaust is owed by Way of liquid tubes 30 and 3| to respective housing ducts 32 and 33. Duct 32 of motor 2 serves both chambers 2l and 22, and duct 33 serves both chambers 2i and 22 of motor 3.

Opened poppet valves I9 allow exhaust liquid to ow to relative liquid tubes 35 and 36 of the motor units. The flow cycle shown by the arrows in the above set forth tubes enables the pressure liquid to shift the pistons until, by action of the cams 25 of the motors, the effective outflow poppet `valves I9 are cam released and, closed by their spring and piston action is stopped and the valves :Iiiand 20 are unseated just before the valves VI5-.I9 close, but flow from the pocket 2U' is choked at valve (later described). Control ineanslater described, and incorporated to serve liquid pressure to the relative poppet chambers and valves (I5-JIS) if it be intended to advance the piston tothe left in a second step for more extension of the piston rod, and which means is alsoeifective to serve liquid to the (motor) poppet .valve I9 should it be desired to reverse the ,motion of the piston (of each motor unit); that is move it to the right hand side.

' .i Attention is now directed to means, Fig. 1, which operates trebly-to select the direction of flow of liquid and drive of the motor units 2 and 3; to cause step-by-step action of the motor pistonsin one chosen direction; or to cause a step- .by-step reverse motion of motor pistons. This means controls both ow of pressure, in either direction to certain poppets of the motor assembly and, concurrently, the exhaust of liquid from *any coordinate open and exhausting poppet of the motor unit, and thereon depends which way the vconnected motor unitor units will be driven.

This selective, control means is a master, multiple, control valve mechanism. It is characterized by a single, oscillative, reciprocating spindle 40, hand or otherwise operated, and having a rigid, radial pin 4I, Fig. 2, engaged in a helical cam slot 42 of a barrel 43 which is turnably keyed by a collar 44 in a casing 45 enclosing two sets of valves, soon to be set forth. The collar 44 is a fixed part of a concentric sleeve 46 of the barrel and hence allows rotation of the barrel by and with the shaft 49 after an initial quarter (in this case) turn of the shaft to cause the shaft to slide inward or outward as to the casing 45.

' Any suitable means may be provided for temporary retention of the barrel at any angular position to which it may have been turned (clockwise or anti-clockwise) by the selector shaftv 40.

-A simple friction shoe brake 41 is here shown bearingon the barrel.

` Fixed on the sleeve 45 is a cam 48 operative 'on a related set of motor step action controlling poppet valves of substantially the same kind as above set out` The cam 48 is shown as having diametrically opposite high points 49 and 50, and intermediate, opposite 10W faces 5| and 5I.

In the casing 45 and to one side of the spindle 49 is a pair of chambers 52 and 53 having spring closed poppet valves 54 and 55 to control liquid flow toward pockets 55 and 5'.' under the valves 54 and 55. These pockets are served by a common duct 58 to a two-Way flow tube 59. In the opposite side of the casing 45 is a pair of chambers 69 and 6I having relative spring closed poppet valves 62 and 63 which control flow in pockets 64 and 65 which are connected by a common, twov'ay duct 66; this being served by a liquid tube Therefore, the cam 48 concurrently holds open two diametrically opposite valves, as 54-63, Fig. 1, the flow circuit showing that exhaust is taking place at the valve 54 while it is mechanically (cam) held open and pressure is flowing past poppet 62 and will iiow past poppet 63 if flow resistance is less than from poppet 52 (due to pipe friction for example). The diametrically opposite valve 63 is also open and uid may be flowing from pocket I2 to the cham-ber I2 past -port poppet I5 and through lines I3 and i4 to motor cylinder 3. Return fluid enters line 3| and arrives'at chambers 2I-22 through duct 33. Fluid cannot pass fromr upper chamber 22 to lower pocket 29 because port is closed by cam free poppet 23 but it can flow past open poppet I9 and thence through lines 35 and I I2 to the open poppet 54 of the distributor 45 and out at line 59 to a suitable receiver or reservoir.

The master control spindle 40 is the actuating part of a system of valves which control the direction of flow of pressureV liquid in the circuit tubes 59 and 6l', which, in the present disclosure, serve a plurality of motor units (2 and 3) by way of a suitable structure including branched junctions.

For clarity, reference is first made to direction of ow only in tubes 59 and 51, and to -control this flow the spindle 40 has a coaxial, tandem-cone cam on its far end in the casing 45; the cones extending oppositely from a basal, intermediate cylinder or cam body 'I2 and which is of a length to push in under the adjacent ends of diametrically opposite poppet rods 'I3-I4 of relative, spring closed poppet` valves 'I5 and 16; the first functioning as a supply, only, and the latter as an exhaust,only. In other words, the function of each poppet valve i5-'IG does not alternate as do the functions ofthe previously described poppet valves.

The camming cylinder I2 is pushed, by function ofthe helical cam 42 `of the barrel 43,' from the position shown in Fig. l, to arearward, alternate position, 2, at which .place diametricallyopposite valve rods 11 and 18 of relative poppet valves 19 and 80 are therefore thrust outwardly; the valve 19 acting .to control supply (only) of liquid, and the valve "80 acting for exhaust, only.

The valve works in a constant pressure liquid supply pocket 13' which has a tube connection 9D to the circuit tube 51. The valve 19 works in a constant liquid usupply chamber 19 which leads to a supply pocket 11 which has a tube connection 9| to the `circuit tube 59. Liquid, at any desired pressure, is supplied constantly to the chambers 15 4and 19 by a main or pipe-92.

The exhaust poppet valves 15 and Bil work in respective chambers 16' and 80' which lead to relative vpockets 1.4 and 18' and these latter .are connected to a common exhaust line 93. The chamber `16' has a connection 59' to theitube 59.

In Fig. l the supply poppet valve 15 is held open :by the .cam 12 for liquid flow to the feeder 90 and tube 51 to supply motive liquid by way of the master valve S2 to the circuit tube 68 and by valve 153 `and circuit tube 63 (see flow arrows). At `the same time the cam 12 is holding open the companion (of valve 15) exhaust valve 16 so that exhaust liquid coming by the master valve 54 (now held open) to the tube 59 is passed on .to the exhaust line 93. Such position, Fig. 1, of the master :cam 1.2 and of the two valves 15 and 16 -will cause :the liquid to flow past either or both poppets 62-53 ina circuit past poppets |5 which will drive the mot-or pistons 4 and 5 in one direction concurrently.

When the pistons by way of their cams `2-5 have eifected closure of the poppets 'I9 and cut ol outflow and opened poppets 29, whose lines 20a ylead to tube 53a and the closed poppet 55, the motors are stopped even though the check poppet 54 is still open. A new motor step or action can be again :started by turning the crank spindle 4D clockwise lone step if the pistons are to further extend their rods 6-|; without axial shift `of the feed control cam 12. Step-by-step motor action is had :by step-by-step turn of the control spindle so that the master cam 48 acts in regular, successive order around the set of valves 55, 54, 62, 51|.; the puppets `|i2-$3 acting only to deliver pressure to either or both tubes 58--93 (according to pipe iiowresistance) while poppets 54 and 55 act alternately, in cooperation with the alternatelyexhausting poppets in the valve 8 to stop the motors at each step when the cam 48 releases the open v.poppets 54 or55. These poppets have -capacity `for yalternate use as pressure nservers or as exhausters, as will now be described.

`Now to secure a reverse operation or stroke of the motor pistons 4 and 5 the spindle 4U, Fig, 1, is turned` anti-clockwise one step (90) without turning eiect on the braked barrel 43 but with alreaction by which the pin yil is caused` to screw rearward in the cam slot 42, Fig. 2, and therefore shift the spindle 4|! and its cam 12 rearward to consequently allow the valves 15 .and 16 to close in their chambers, and reversely, to thrust the valves 19 and 80 outwardly and open their Apockets l1:1 and 18. This position reverses liquid flow from the tube 92 over into the supply pocket 11', Fig. l, and thence to tube 9| and the tube 59, while, on the contrary, the exhaust valve 80 is now open and the tube 61 is ilowing liquid to a tube 61 leading to the exhaust chamber 80C In -this reversing valve gear liquid iiow can @only take .place at valves that are mechanically t to exhaust the motors The `pressure operated junction checlc valve gear For the `purpose of coordinating the operation of gangs, groups or systems of hydraulic motors controlled by the master or distributor valve "assembly, in casing 45, `a set of pairs of duplicate junction boxes is introduced between the direc# tion-now, stepbystep control valves, there being two boxes for each motor unit 2 (3).

Following the pressure flow indicated in Fig. 1, it will be seen that a branch |09 leads from `the tube 61 and taps a manifold lili which servesend chambers |02 and |03 of a junction box |9411, and pressurein these chambers acts on cylindric rams |05||l6 to, at times, force spring actuated, pop- -pet valves klill and |08 inwardly into an intermediate, dual flow (pressure or exhaust) space |99 which is tapped directly by the tube 68. These rams are operative to open the relative valves and this permits liquid iiow into junction pockets Hl] and one having a junction tube Ila t0 motor 2, and the other having a junction tube |I`b to the `motor 3.

it will therefore be quickly seen that liquid pressure is concurrently served to this plurality o motors by thebox` |9405 in one direction by way of direction .selectingv valve y15. A second box |541), videntical with the lbox lil4a, is now serving 2 and `3, which are clockwise turning their valve controlling shafts lil, description of the box ||l4a sufcing for the box web, and others as to construction and operation. Pressure may be owing to the motors by way of the line 63 as above stated.

The flow `arrows indicate that the like tubes 35-36 of the motors are exhausting to the box |il4b, whose check poppet valves are now in backflow stopping position under action of their Inu-- tualsprings |01', in the absence of motive liquid pressure in the relative ram chambers. The exhausting liquid from this box |0413 flows by way of a tube |i2 to the now cam-opened valve 54, flowing thence to the tube 59-59 and out at the cam opened valve 16 to exhaust line 93.

There is a pair of junction boxes for each motor in the system. In the flow circuit shown the boxes ||l4a and |0417 control ilow to and from the motors while pressure subsists in the line 51 to effect a left hand drive, in one step, of the pistons. When the cam 48 is `turned clockwise one step from the position, in Fig. l, this closes the poppet 54 servingbox ||l4b and opens the poppet 55 serving the line 53aconnecting to a box |540 which has lines 29a to the motors. The lines 63 from the poppet 63 connects to a box mild from which tubes |2a connect to the pockets I2' oi the motors, and this box connects to manifold |9| as does box |4a. The boxes |il4d and lte are served by a manifold to line 59 for action of their end rams (as in box |04a). These several boxes come into reverse flow effect at each setting of the reversing cam when it is shifted either way, and they either serve pressure to or exhaust from the motors.

Therefore, it is seen that it is only necessary, now, to turn the crank spindle 49 a stroke of 90 anti-clockwise (from position Fig. l) to thereby shift the reversing cam 12 toward the rear and this will close the valves 15 and 15 and open the valves 19 and 80. During the first '90 turn of the spindle 40 in an anticlockwise direction master cam 5I will remain stationary under control of the brake 41. If the spindle is turned 90 more anticlockwise the cam 5I will also turn and thus open poppets 62 and 55 permitting the escape of returning uid past poppet 62. This will com pletely reverse the direction of liquid flow in the tubes 6l, 68, H2 and 59, and motive liquid will flow to the motor units by Way of boxes lb and lllllc and concurrently move their pistons to the right and exhaust will be by Way of boxes l 04a and `l 04d; after initial reversing action.

When a step by step piston motion in one direction is required itis only necessary to turn the spindle lill, regardless of the position of the direction oW 'cam I2- by quarter turns-to successively sweep the cam 138 in its orbit past the related pairs of valves 54-63 and 55-52 to effect the opening of any closed poppet which stops motor exhaust at valve 45 and thereby permit successive impulse flow from poppets 62-63 to the poppet valves l5-5 and thence to the tube Id, ultimately, if left hand piston motion is desired. If right hand piston motion is desired the reverse iow of liquid pressure is fed to ther poppets i9 and 2li of the motors by way of service tubes 59, 58, H2, 53a35 and 2da, and exhausting from the motor poppets l5, pipes Hb and S8 to poppet 62 which has been cam opened at this time, and thence to conduit -'l-B'l'. The rams |05 are slightly larger in diameter than the ports for the check valves lill-H18 and this differential insures inward opening of these Valves by pressure in chambers NVZ-ID3.

What is claimed is:

1,. In a hydraulic motor control assembly `a valve gear having liquid pressure and liquid exhaust connections and including a plurality of pairs of poppet valves working in respective chambers and controlling respective pockets,

each pair of valves having a duct common to and relating its pockets and each duct having its own fluid flow to said connections, said valves being radial and angularly symmetrical on a common center in the gear, springs for closing each of the valves, and a control cam means for concurrently opening given, diametrically paired valves for permitting pressure iiow at one open valve and exhaust at the radially opposite valve or contrarywise as desired; the cam being movable step-by-step to the diagonally paired valves, in either direction, the ducts each having a pipe connection for exhaust from or pressure fluid to the pockets of the valves; the first named connections including a two-way flow pipe from each chamber; and means including reversing poppet valves arranged in diametrical pairs as to a common axis, a reciprocative spindle having a cam to act independently on each pair of the reversing valves, a rotative cam mechanism for the said control cam and including a device for reciprocating the spindle when it is rotated as to the said mechanism; said mechanism being rotative by the spindle in either of its shifted posin tions.

2. In a hydraulic motor control assembly; a motor, a motor valve gear having pressure liquid and liquid exhaust iioW connections and includinga plurality of pairs of poppet valves Working in respective chambers and controlling relative pockets, and a connection conduit common to and connecting given chambers in a pair and respective connection tubes from said conduits to opposite ends of the motor; the valves being openable by pressure in their pockets from the pressure connections and the said valves being radial and in angular symmetrical spacing in the gear on a common axis, springs for normally closing the valves, and a control cam for concurrently opening given, diametrically opposite valves and permitting other thus paired valves to open by liquid pressure or close by spring pressure, whereby the conduit related pairs of the chambers are either serving motive liquid or are at exhaust period as to the said connections, and means connecting the said cam to a moving part of the motor to effect a timing of the valve gear by the motor, and a distributor valve assembly including pairs of normally closed, self-closing valves controlling iiow to and from relative pairs of said pockets of the motor Valve gear, and a device for timely actuating the distributing valves to control ilow to and from the motor valve gear.

3. In a motor and hydraulic control apparatus; a hydraulic motor and a valve system driven vthereby for step-by-step m-otor action in either direction of drive, a master control valve assembly connected to and for liquid supply to and exhaust from the said system and having service connections, and a reversing valve set attaching to said connections for alternating direction of flow therein for motor drive in either direction at any motor step.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, and a control mechanism common to and for selectively actuating either the master valve assembly or the reversing set at will at any motor step.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, said assembly and said set each having a plurality of pairs of valve elements, a rotative cam for the assembly valves and a reciprocative cam for the reversing set valves, and an operating spindle common to the cams.

6. A hydraulic motor system including a plurality of piston motors, and means for controlling fluid pressure iioW to and exhaust from the motors and for preventing the exhaust from one motor reacting on the other; said means including check valve units in pairs for each motor, each unit having a two-way ilow chamber and a ilow conduit therefor, a pair of pockets communicating with said chamber and each having a flow conduit to lead motor exhaust to the chamber, and self-closing valves operative to close the pocket having the lower exhaust pressure to prevent back ilow thereto from the higher pressure pocket.

'7. In a hydraulic motor apparatus; a hydraulic motor, a valve system having a plurality of diametrically opposite spring closed valve members disposed in a circle and each serving a chamber and a Docket, flow lines from the motor having ducts to given pairs of the valve chambers and serving the motor, separate flow klines to the valve pockets, and a rotary cam device driven by the motor and acting to engage and shift a coordinate pair of said diametrically opposite valve members of the system for pressure to and exhaust from the motor; and a distributing and exhausting Valve gear having pairs of diametrically opposed valves which severally control flow to and from the said system pockets, and control means for opening one of the valves of a pair of said gear While the other thereof is closed. v

8. In a hydraulic motor apparatus; a hydraulic motor, a valve system having valve chambers connected by ducts in pairs and a flow connection from each duct to respective opposite sides of the motor and pockets for each chamber, and

diametrical pairs of self-closing poppets closing chambers from relative pockets, separate now lines from the pockets, and means synchronized with and driven by the motor for concurrently opening the Valves of one or another of said pairs; and a distributing valve gear having duct connected pockets, spring closed valves normally closing the pockets, chambers to which the valves open and which severally connect to said first named pockets, and a device acting to engage and open, in time, a coordinate pair of the valves to control flow to and exhaust from said rst named pockets of said valve system.

9. In a hydraulic motor apparatus; a hydraulic motor, a valve system having a plurality of spring closed valves disposed in a circle and each serving a chamber and a pocket, 110W lines from the motor having ducts to given pairs of the valve chambers and serving the motor, separate flow lines to the valve pockets, and a rotary cam dee vice driven by the motor for actuating valves of a coordinate pair; and a distributing valve gear having duct connected pockets, spring closed valves normally closing the pockets, chambers to which the valves open and which severally connect to the rst named system pockets, a device acting, in time, on a coordinate pair of the valves to control flow in said system, and a reversible fluid supply and exhaust valve gear connected to the ducts of the said pockets and including means to effect flow through the distributing gear in either of selective directions, at any position of the motor piston.

10. In a hydraulic valve gear, a distributing Valve set having pockets with control members, and a supply and exhaust gear having a plurality ci supply valves and a plurality of exhaust valves, iloW lines connecting the pairs of control pockets to relative supply valves, and the exhaust valves being connected to said flow lines, and a rotative and slidable control spindle, a, cam rotative by and mounted independently of the spindle to 4open the said control members and Ia cam reciprocable by and xed on the spindle to open said valves, one exhaust and one supply set at a time whereby to determine direction of supply and exhaust flow at any setting of the distributing valve.

11. The gear of claim and each cam op- CII 10 erable independently of the other by the spindle; the rotative cam including a device to reciprocate the spindle during a rotary motion of the spindle.

12. In a multiple motor, hydraulic control; an exhaust control means for the motors including a pair of valve devices for each motor, each device having a central, two-Way flow chamber, a two-way conduit for said chamber, self-closing check valves opening into each chamber, end chambers in said device having pressure supply pipes, pockets closable by the Valves between the central and the end chambers and conduits from each pocket to a respective motor, and rams 0perative by pressure in the end chambers to concurrently open said valves, at times, for pressure flow from the central chamber to the pockets; the check valves, in exhaust period, acting automatically to prevent interlow of exhaust from motor to motor. l

13. The control of claim 12; said valves being operable independently by pressure on either that is greater than in its related pocket.

14. The control of claim 12; said devices being coupled in pairs by conduits joining end chambers of given devices for reversing function of the motors.

HERBERT R. SANDERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

